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The Portland Trail Blazers have their playoff fate in their hands

By Stevie Cozens

PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 07: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on May 07, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 07: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on May 07, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers have their playoff fate in their hands. After an eight-seed finish in 2020, and struggles this year on the defensive end and with injuries, they are now just a few games away from claiming the fifth-seed outright, and a potential advantageous matchup with the Denver Nuggets.

Last season they had to climb over broken glass even to make the play-in game. Needing 40 points per game from Damian Lillard as well as other results going their way, the Blazers went an improbable six and two to make the play-in, then beat the Memphis Grizzlies in a thriller to scrape into the eight-seed. They were then blown out in five games by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, led by LeBron James, who then lifted the NBA title.

This season, even though they have been inconsistent, they are now only a few games away from grabbing the fifth seed. Considering that they lost four games on the trot at home just a few weeks ago and looked like they were potentially falling out of the playoff race, this is an excellent outcome.

You will read this after the win in the game over the Utah Jazz. If the Blazers can now win their final two games, they will secure the fifth seed.

Let’s break it down.

Before the Jazz game, they had the same record as the Dallas Mavericks, but have the tie-breaker meaning they secure that seed if they end up with the same record as them. As the Mavericks won today as well, the equation stays simple; just keep winning.

They now need to beat the Phoenix Suns away and then the Nuggets at home to secure that fifth spot. As they needed to win two out of three to get the sixth seed and avoid the play-in, they now need to win just one of these last two games to keep the sixth seed, but if they can win both, they will have the fifth seed. With Lillard coming into form at the right time, they could just get that fifth spot.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking Neil Olshey’s best and worst moves as GM. dark